Surveying apparatus

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a surveying method and apparatus including a selfpowered mobile target rod carrier and rotatable target rod with calibrated means for measuring horizontal angles. The mobile vehicle also includes a retractable table for placing gravity measuring equipment on the terrain at the data point and determining the elevation of the target above the point at which the data is taken.

United States Patent 1191 Bazhaw 1 Feb. 20, 1973 541 SURVEYING APPARATUS1,476,077 12/1923 Hort ..33/46 AT 2,590,115 3/1952 Merriam, Jr. et al[75] Invent Bazhaw Dallas 2,277,505 3/1942 Barker et al ..73/382 [73]Assignee: Hunt Oil Company, Dallas, Tex.

Primary Examiner-William D. Martin, Jr. [221 Flled- July 16,1970Attorney-Giles c. Clegg, Jr.

[21] Appl. No.: 55,373

[57] ABSTRACT 52 us. c1 ..33/264, 33/295 Disclosed is a surveying methodand apparatus includ- 51 1m. (:1. ..G0lc 15/06 a -W "while targetcarrier and [58] Field of Search 73 7 4 46 R 46 AT rotatable target rodwith calibrated means for measur- 35/69 5 ing horizontal angles. Themobile vehicle also includes a retractable table for placing gravitymeasuring equipment on the terrain at the data point and deter- [56]References Cited mining the elevation of the target above the point atUNITED STATES PATENTS which the data is taken. 2,249,707 7/1941 Frost..33/74 B 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3.716.923

lllllllllllllllllln m iris WlLLIS O. BAZHAW Al Z64 ATTORNEY PATENTEI]FEBZOIUH SHEET 2 OF 3 FICELS FIG. 4

PATENTEDFEB'ZUIW 3.716.923

SHEET 30F 3 FIG. 6

ir-F/ENTO FIG. 7

WILLIS O. BAZHAW ATTORNEY SURVEYING APPARATUS This invention relates tosurveying apparatus and systems. More particularly it relates to mobilefield surveying equipment and methods for obtaining topographic and/orcontour data, and particularly to a mobile target rod used in connectionwith such surveying equipment and methods.

In the conventional surveying process topographic or contour surveys areperformed utilizing a surveyors transit and a target. The target ismounted on a rod which is removed a distance from the transit and thedistance therebetween determined. The elevational difference in thetransit base and the target is also determined.

The conventional surveying crew includes a surveyor and a rod man. Therod man carries the target rod to the points selected by the surveyorand holds the target rod at selected points while the surveyor takes thedesired data concerning distance, elevation and direction.Conventionally the rod man drives a stake at the position where the datapoint was taken so a later crew may make gravity measurements at thesame location. The target rod is then moved to another location and theprocess repeated until all the required data points have been taken. Thehorizontal angle between lines interconnecting the rod locations and thetransit are measured by the horizontal rotation of the transit, thusproviding the surveyor with sufficient information to determine locationand elevation of each data point.

Conventionally the azimuthal bearing of the rod from the transit is alsodetermined by reference to a magnetic compass. Thereby the location ofthe initial transit site and the remote data points may be readilydetermined.

As will be readily apparent such conventional surveying techniques canbe slow and tedious since a rod man is usually assigned the duty ofcarrying the target rod to various locations and must content with suchdifficulties as pests, weeds, brush and the like. Furthermore, the rodman is usually required to drive a stake at the point where the data wastaken to identify the point for a later crew which determines gravity atthe same location. Survey stakes are often difficult to relocate and maybe accidentally removed prior to the time the gravity crew arrives atthe scene.

In accordance with the present invention a surveying system is providedin which both the transit and the target rod are mounted on mobilecarriers and elevated above the terrain a sufficient distance tosubstantially avoid interference by weeds, brush and the like. Since therod man rides a self-powered vehicle, the target rod may be rapidlymoved to the desired location without undue effort on the part of thecrew. Furthermore, gravity determining means may be readily mountedwithin the mobile vehicle to simultaneously record gravity measurementsat each location where a surveying data point is taken. Accordingly, theneed for driving stakes and relocating each staked point to take gravityreadings is obviated. Since the target rod is carried on a mobilevehicle, the rod may be maintained vertical by mechanical means and thusis more stable than a hand-held target rod.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the appended claims and attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a surveying course comprising the points A-F;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the mobile target rod of theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the mobile target rod and platform;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the collapsible portion of the mobiletarget rod;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the mobile target rod takenthrough the lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side view of the mobile target rod and platformillustrating the collapsible target rod support; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the mobile target rod and platform of theinvention illustrating the target rod in the collapsed position.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, aconventional surveyors transit is mounted on a mobile platform such asillustrated in FIG. 2.

The mobile platform for the surveyors transit may be a mobile elevatedplatform with means provided to stabilize same. Preferably, thesurveyors vehicle is a truck with a horizontally mounted elevatedplatform. A conventional transit tripod can be mounted on the platformand suitable conventional means such as retractable jacks, blocks, orother conventional means provided to stabilize the surveyors platform.The platform need only be stable enough to allow the surveyor to set histransit tripod and maintain it level while taking the desiredmeasurements. As will be described, in accordance with the preferredmethod of the invention the elevation of the transit above the terrainneed not be determined.

The target rod is also mounted on a mobile vehicle.

' The target rod must be held vertical irrespective of the attitude ofthe platform upon which it is carried. Accordingly, the rod is mountedupon a nonrotatable swivel base as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Themobile platform is preferably mounted on a vehicle such as truck 10 andcomprises an elevated platform 11 preferably mounted horizontally on thetruck body. Approximately centrally located on the platform 11 is avertically extendable target rod 12. The target rod 12 is preferablymounted on a pivotal mounting firmly secured to the platform 11.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 6, the preferred embodiment of the pivotalmounting is illustrated. The mounting comprises a pair of opposedmounting lugs 20 secured to the floor of the platform 11 andinterconnected by pivot rod 21. Vertically extending flange 22 is hingedon rod 21 between lugs 20. Flange 22 has an arcuate slot 23 near the endopposite the mounting lugs.

A base support 24 centrally located on pivot rod 21 is adapted toreceive the base of rod 12. Rod 12 is secured to base support 24 bymeans of pin 25 passing through both the rod 12 and base support 24. Athreaded clamping pin 26 passes through the target rod 12 at a distanceremoved from the base thereof to coincide with the slot 23 in flange 22so that as the target rod 12 is moved laterally clamping pin 26traverses the slot 23. The rod 12 may be clamped in any position withinthe arc 23 by means of washer 27 and wing nut 28. It will thus beobserved that the target rod 12 may be moved laterally by releasing wingnut 28 and moving the rod to the desired position. It will furtherbeobserved that since flange 22 is hinged between opposed lugs the entireassembly may. be moved forward or backward as desired.

In order to stabilize the target rod 12 in the desired vertical positiona slotted beam 30 is provided. Beam 30 is anchored to the floor of theplatform 11 at a point forward of the mounting lugs 20. Threaded lockingpin 31 extendinglaterally from one side of flange 22 rides in slot 32 ofbeam 30. Locking pin 31 is provided with wing nut 33 to lock the flange22 in the desired position. From the foregoing it will be observed thatthe rod 12 may be swiveled without rotation upon its pivotal base andlocked in any desired attitude with respect to platform 1 1 bytightening the wing nuts 28 and 33.

Target rod 12 is preferably provided with a leveling device 40 mountedon rod 12. Leveling device 40 is preferably a bull's eye bubble levelsecured to the rod 12 in a position where the bubble will be centered inthe level only when the rod 12 is vertical. Accordingly, the operatormay loosen wing nuts 28 and 33 and adjust rod 12 until the rod isvertical as indicated by centering of the bulls eye bubble. When thevertical condition is obtained the wing nuts 28 and 33 are tightened tosecurely lock the target rod in the vertical position.

As indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7, target rod 12 may be provided with one ormore hinged joints 17 to allow the rod 12 to be folded for transport. Asillustrated in FIG. 6, wing nut 31 may be loosened and the target rodlowered to the horizontal position. The rod 12 is then folded at hingedjoint 17 and stored on the floor of the carrier platform 11 fortransport. If desired a spring 29 may be suitably stretched between theflange 22 and the platform to assist in erection of the rod 12.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it will be observed that the top section 120 ofrod 12 is rotatable with respect to the base section 12b and is providedwith a collar 35 which mates with the top of the base section 12b.Collar 35 is provided with opposed hand grips 36 whereby the top section12a of the target rod may be rotated with respect to the base section12b. Accordingly, after the rod 12 is anchored in the vertical position,top section 12a may be rotated by the operator until the face of target37 is normal to the line of sight between the target 37 and the transit.Alignment of target with the transit is obtained by means of a sightingscope 41 mounted on the top section 12a. Sighting scope 41 is affixed tothe rod 12a so that the line of sight through sighting scope is normalto the face of target 37 The operator rotates rod 12a by means of handgrips 36 until the transit appears in sighting scope 41: Sighting scope41 may be pivotally mounted to allow vertical movement of the sightingscope thereby compensating for elevational differences between thetarget and the transit.

When the target 37 is properly aligned with the surveyors transit, thedistance therebetween is .determined by conventional methods. Inconventional surveying methods, the position of the target is determinedby measuring the distance between transit and target and determining thebearing of the target from the transit with a magnetic compass. However,since the transit is mounted on a self-propelled vehicle, a magneticcompass cannot be effectively used. Accordingly, alternate means must beprovided.

In using the apparatus of this invention the location of the first datapoint must be determined by reference to a known landmark. This may beaccomplished by placing the transit over a point of known location andelevation, or by determining the original transit point by otherconventional methods. Once the original location of the transit isdetermined, no other landmark references are required and compassreadings are not required to determine horizontal angles. Instead ofusing a magnetic compass, means are provided on the vertical rod todetermine horizontal angles as will be described hereinafter.

Use of the apparatus to obtain surveying data will be described withreference to FIG. 1. The platform with the surveyors transit ispositioned at a first location on the terrain to be surveyed such asindicated at point A in FIG. 1. The position and elevation of point Amust be known or determined by conventional methods. The target carrierassumes a position removed from the position of the transit such aspoint B. The target rod is then erected and the distance separating thetransit and the target rod and elevational difference between thesurveyors transit and the target are determined. Conventional methodsmay be used for such determinations. The target carrier remainsstationary and the surveyors transit platform then moved to a secondposition such as point C in FIG. 1 and the process repeated. Theazimuthal deviation between the lines interconnecting points A and B andpoints 13 and C is determined by measuring the angle X therebetween bymeans provided on the target rod. The target carrier is then moved topoint D and the entire process repeated.

In order to determine the horizontal angle between the two locations ofthe transit with respect to the rod, target rod 12 is provided with aradial disc 50 such as shown in FIG. 5. The radial disc 50 is mounted ontarget rod 12 immediately below the rotatable section 12a of the rod andis divided into suitable calibrations. A pointer 51 mounted on section12a adjacent the radial disc 50 may be used to measure the angularrotation of the rod section 12a with respect to base section 12b as therod 12a is rotated. Thus the desired horizontal angle is measureddirectly.

As an alternative means for measuring the rotation of top section 12awith respect to base section 12b, top section 12a may be provided with ashaft 60 which extends into the base section 12b. Electronic means fordetermining relative movement, such as a Selsyn motor 61, is secured toshaft 60. Rotation of top section 12a causes like rotation of shaft 60which is detected by the Selsyn motor 61. The electrical'output of theSelsyn motor 61 is recorded by conventional means to determine therotation of the target.

The field data obtained by the system of this invention is similar tothat obtained by conventional survey ing techniques. However, it will beobserved that in no case is either the surveyor or the rod man requiredto leave the mobile platform, thus the surveying can be done veryrapidly. Furthermore, since the surveyor and the target rod are mountedat elevated points on mobile carriers, the distance of separationbetween the target and the transit can be increased since the line ofsight separating the target and the transit will not be obstructed bysurface growth.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mobile target carrier also carries aretractable tripod-mounted table 70 which carries a conventional gravitymeasuring device 71. Table 70 is positioned on the terrain directlybelow the base of rod 12 to take gravity measurements simultaneouslywith the taking of surveying data. It will also be observed that thetable 70 may be used to accurately determine the elevation of target 37above the terrain. For this purpose a linear scale 72 is mounted withinthe truck below the target rod 12. The distance from the target 37 toany point on scale 72 is constant and may be accurately determined.Likewise the distance from the foot of table 70 to a known point on thetable 70 is also constant and may be determined. Due to irregularitiesin the terrain, the position of the table may vary at differentstations. A pointer suitably positioned on table 70 which moves parallelto scale 72 as the table 70 is raised and lowered may be used to measurethe actual distance from the terrain at the point directly below thebase of the rod to the target 37 since the exact distance will be thesum of the two known distances as indicated on the scale 72.

Table 70 is provided with a suitable retracting mechanism so that table70 may be easily withdrawn into the carrier for transportation. Uponarrival on the surveying site the table 70 is lowered to the terrain,the gravity measurement taken and the distance from the foot of thetable to the target 37 recorded. These data may be taken simultaneouslywith the other surveying data taken at the location and the table againretracted. The mobile carrier is then ready for relocation at a secondpoint.

From the foregoing it will be observed that using the method andapparatus of this invention, contour and/or topographical data may becollected rapidly and easily without either the surveyor or the rod manleaving the mobile carriers. Furthermore, gravity measurements may bemade simultaneously with other measurements, thereby eliminating theneed for driving stakes at the points where other data are taken.

it will be noted that elevational data need only be taken at the targetpoints. Since the horizontal angles between all lines interconnectingtransit and target points are measured directly, and since the elevationof the target above the terrain is measured at each target point, andthe distance between transit and target is measured at each position ofboth transit and target, sufficient data are collected to prepare anyconventional surveying map desired.

While the invention has been described with particular reference tospecific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the forms ofthe invention shown and described are to be taken as preferredembodiments of same, and that various changes and modifications may beresorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile target rod comprising:

a. A self-powered vehicle;

b. an elevated platform mounted on said vehicle;

0. a target rod anchored to said platform;

d. adjustable means for stabilizing said rod in a vertical positionirrespective of the attitude of said platform;

e. target means secured to said target rod; f. means for rotating saidrod with respect to said platform;

means for measuring the horizontal angle through which said rod isrotated with respect to said platform;

. said adjustable means for stabilizing said rod comprising:

i. a hinged flange mounted on said platform, said flange having anarcuate slot therein and having means for securing the base of saidtarget rod at the base of said flange;

ii. a threaded pin secured to said target rod riding in said arcuateslot;

iii. a beam having one end secured to said platform at a point removedfrom said hinged flange and extending in the direction of movement ofsaid hinged flange, said beam having a longitudinal slot therein; and

iv. a threaded pin secured to said hinged flange and riding in said slotin said beam.

2. The mobile target rod defined in claim 1 wherein said means formeasuring the angle through which said rod is rotated is a Selsyn motorattached to the base of said rod.

3. The mobile target rod defined in claim 1 wherein said target rod iscomprised of a base section and a target section, the target sectionbeing rotatable with respect to said base section and the base sectionbeing non-rotatable with respect to said platform.

4. The mobile target rod defined in claim 3 wherein said means formeasuring the angle through which said rod is rotated comprises:

i. a calibrated disc surrounding the non-rotatable base section of saidrod; and

ii. pointer means affixed to said target section to cooperativelyindicate the rotation of said target section on said disc.

5. The mobile target rod defined in claim 1 and further including aretractable table supported within said self-powered vehicle below thebase of said target rod and adapted to be freely positioned on theterrain directly below said target rod.

6. The mobile target rod defined in claim 5 and further including meansfor measuring the distance from said target to the terrain directlybelow said target rod.

7. The mobile target rod defined in claim 1 and further including hingemeans for folding said rod.

1. A mobile target rod comprising: a. A self-powered vehicle; b. anelevated platform mounted on said vehicle; c. a target rod anchored tosaid platform; d. adjustable means for stabilizing said rod in avertical position irrespective of the attitude of said platform; e.target means secured to said target rod; f. means for rotating said rodwith respect to said platform; g. means for measuring the horizontalangle through which said rod is rotated with respect to said platform;h. said adjustable means for stabilizing said rod comprising: i. ahinged flange mounted on said platform, said flange having an arcuateslot therein and having means for securing the base of said target rodat the base of said flange; ii. a threaded pin secured to said targetrod riding in said arcuate slot; iii. a beam having one end secured tosaid platform at a point removed from said hinged flange and extendingin the direction of movement of said hinged flange, said beam having alongitudinal slot therein; and iv. a threaded pin secured to said hingedflange and riding in said slot in said beam.
 1. A mobile target rodcomprising: a. A self-powered vehicle; b. an elevated platform mountedon said vehicle; c. a target rod anchored to said platform; d.adjustable means for stabilizing said rod in a vertical positionirrespective of the attitude of said platform; e. target means securedto said target rod; f. means for rotating said rod with respect to saidplatform; g. means for measuring the horizontal angle through which saidrod is rotated with respect to said platform; h. said adjustable meansfor stabilizing said rod comprising: i. a hinged flange mounted on saidplatform, said flange having an arcuate slot therein and having meansfor securing the base of said target rod at the base of said flange; ii.a threaded pin secured to said target rod riding in said arcuate slot;iii. a beam having one end secured to said platform at a point removedfrom said hinged flange and extending in the direction of movement ofsaid hinged flange, said beam having a longitudinal slot therein; andiv. a threaded pin secured to said hinged flange and riding in said slotin said beam.
 2. The mobile target rod defined in claim 1 wherein saidmeans for measuring the angle through which said rod is rotated is aSelsyn motor attached to the base of said rod.
 3. The mobile target roddefined in claim 1 wherein said target rod is comprised of a basesection and a target section, the target section being rotatable withrespect to said base section and the base section being non-rotatablewith respect to said platform.
 4. The mobile target rod defined in claim3 wherein said means for measuring the angle through which said rod isrotated comprises: i. a calibrated disc surrounding the non-rotatablebase section of said rod; and ii. pointer means affixed to said targetsection to cooperatively indicate the rotation of said target section onsaid disc.
 5. The mobile target rod defined in claim 1 and furtherincluding a retractable table supported within said self-powered vehiclebelow the base of said target rod and adapted to be freely positioned onthe terrain directly below said target rod.
 6. The mobile target roddefined in claim 5 and further including means for measuring thedistance from said target to the terrain directly below said target rod.